BusinessWeek Mindanao (May 13, 2020)

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Briefly Emergency loan GOVERNMENT workers can now avail of emergency loans from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) up to P40,000.

GSIS president Rolando Macasaet said the agency’s Board of Tr ustees have decided to increase the loanable amount after noting that some of those who applied for emergency loans have existing loans.

Under GSIS rules, the outstanding loan amount of a member will be deducted from the proceeds of the emergency loan once the application has been approved.

Agri, fishery exports EXPORTS of agricultural and fisheries products rose 12% to $1.31 billion in the first quarter, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“This is a complete opposite of the total Philippine exports during the period, which dropped by 5.16% to $25.73 billion,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.

The largest agri-fishery export earners were banana, coconut oil, canned tuna, fresh or dried pineapples, desiccated coconut, other prepared fruits such as banana chips, carrageenan, prepared or preserved pineapples, and other cigarettes containing tobacco.

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Wednesday|May 13, 2020

P15.00

Wage hike, more perks for businesses pushed

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Thank you for trusting us!

By PREXX MARNIE KATE TROZO, PNA

HE Mindanao De velopment Au t h o r i t y ( M i n DA ) h a s recommended increasing wage rates in rural areas to levels at par with urban rates and providing incentives to companies relocating their processing facilities in the provinces.

The measures would ensure the success of the "Balik Probinsya" initiative being advocated by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, said MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

“S er iously, I cannot understand why rural workers should receive lower salaries than those who work in the cities. Personally, I see this discriminatory wage rates

(whose constitutionality could be challenged) as one of the reasons why many job seekers flock to the urban centers,” Piñol said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Go said the government should learn from the experiences being encountered in the 2019 coronavirus disease ( C ov i d - 1 9 ) c r i s i s , an d HIKE/PAGE 7

LEND A HAND. Amid difficulties in sustaining their daily needs, fisherfolk in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City carry an outrigger to shore to go fishing. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

CDO school to open with ‘new normal’ set up in July IN keeping with the culture of “new normal” as a result of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, a Catholic multi-level school here is set to start the school year by introducing non-traditional arrangements for its students.

The Jesuit-run Xavier UniversityAteneo de Cagayan (XU) said Sunday it will open its grade school, junior and senior high school and college (except for graduate school, law, and medicine) campuses in July.

SCHOOL/PAGE 7

52 medical staff in CdeO test negative for Covid-19

By FROILAN GALLARDO, MindaNews

LIFE ALONG THE RIVER. A woman washes clothes along Maasin River in Barangay Maasin in Pilar town, Siargao Island. mindanews photo by roel n. catoto

AT least 52 doctors, nurses and other medical staff of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) here have been tested negative of the dreaded coronavirus disease

(COVID-19), officials said.

Dr. Jos elito Retuya, chief epidemiologist of the Cagayan de Oro City Health Office, said the NEGATIVE/PAGE 7

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Local

(FEATURE)

Of Moros and Malong MARAWI City -- “We never imagined that our City, our homeland would turn to ashes. We never imagined that one day we would leave our beloved home.”

These were the words shared by Junairah Busran Inok, wife of Aquil Lumampa Razuman, while securing a knot at the end of the malong she was wearing.

“We lost millions and even lost the lives of our beloved relatives.

But here we remain – standing and continuing to live, starting our lives here in Iligan City," she added.

After receiving the

Livelihood Settlement Grant given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Sustainable Livelihood Program, they decided to put up a business in Iligan City to support the daily needs of their family.

Thankful for the assistance given them, the couple said the grant they received would be a big help not only for them to pay their loans and debts, but also to start anew with their small business.

In God’s Will, one day everything that has gone will be changed with more blessings,” said Junairah. (DSWD)

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Caraga completes P1.5-B SAP distribution: DSWD B UTUAN City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Caraga Region (DSWD-13) has reported the completion of the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in the area through

the local government units (LGUs).

In a statement Monday (May 11), DSWD-13 lauded all LGUs in Caraga Region for completing the distribution of the emergency cash subsidy under the SAP, which aims to cushion the impact

of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis on poor families.

Over P1.5 billion has been disbursed to a total of 305,096 low-income families in the region as of May 8, 2020.

“These families are non-Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program (4Ps) members,” the DSWD-13 said in a statement.

The DSWD-13 lauded the efforts of the 73 LGUs in the Caraga Region, which "served at the forefront" during the distribution of the SAP to SAP/PAGE 6

BARMM eyes ‘distance education’ for next school year COTABATO City – Education officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are keen on carrying out the distance education program or online learning for the school year 20202021.

This was bared by lawyer Haron Meling, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM), in an interview by Philippine News Agency on Saturday.

He said the response came about after a series of deliberations conducted by key officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) on the setting up of the “new normal” in the educational system.

"The consultation is

ongoing for the committee to deliberate the most convenient alternative schooling methods applicable for various areas in the country, such as the distance education," Meling said.

He added that during the earlier part of March, five sessions of management committee teleconference of DepEd took place wherein the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) was underscored.

"LCP is one of the

alternative educational methods among all others designed for every student, including those coming from the rural areas," Meling said.

In a statement, DepEd said “LCP includes key features on K-12 curriculum adjustments; alignment of learning materials; various modalities of delivery; and corresponding teacher and parent/guardian training for homeschooling.”

Meling said that since some remote areas of BARMM do not have good internet services to support the class, the committee is pushing forward to make the class files downloadable or ready-to-print for the students.

On May 8, Meling said MBHTE–BARMM Minister Mohagher Iqbal also conducted an LCP survey meeting with the schools' division superintendents of Maguindanao 1 and 2, EDUCATION/PAGE 6

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WEDNESDAY|MAY 13, 2020

3

CorporateWorld

SMC drops $2-B Holcim acquisition

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AN MIGUEL Corp.

(SMC) is terminating its $2.15-billion acquisition of Holcim Philippines, Inc. after failing to obtain clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

In a statement on Monday, the diversified conglomerate said it would “no longer proceed” in buying 85.73% shares in Holcim after its agreement lapsed on May 10

without getting the required approval of the PCC. With the discontinuation of the proposed acquisition, SMC said the supposed tender offer of Holcim shares held by minority shareholders is likewise withdrawn.

SMC, through First Stronghold Cement Industries, Inc. (FSCII) — a unit of SMC subsidiary San Miguel Equity Investments, Inc. — was buying 5.53 billion common

shares in Holcim, the local arm of Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim Ltd. The deal was made on May 10, 2019 with the purpose of expanding SMC’s foothold in the country’s cement industry.

As part of the transaction, FSCII was supposed to do a tender offer of shares in Holcim held by minority investors equivalent to 14.27% of its total issued and outstanding capital stock.

While the Department of Trade and Industry earlier said the buyout might result in lower prices of locally produced cement, the PCC said it might substantially lessen competition in the grey cement market in Luzon.

It flagged that FSCII is under SMC, and SMC is under Top Frontier Investment Holdings, Inc., which has two cement plants set to open in the next two years: Northern Cement

Corp. and Oro Cemento Industries Corp.

The PCC likewise noted that SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang is the majority owner and chairman of Eagle Cement Corp.

“Sellers, distributors, and hardware owners in the relevant markets viewed Eagle Cement and Northern Cement as ‘sister companies’ and part of the Top Frontier group,” the competition watchdog said in January.

POGOs, service providers Aboitiz allots P1.82 B for must pay taxes: Dominguez COVID-19 mitigation efforts THE Aboitiz Group has committed a total of P1.82 billion for COVID-19related efforts including P388 million in donations for medical frontliners and relief goods for poor families.

The amount includes the P220-million donation from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation (the Aboitiz family-based foundation) and personal donations in Cebu.

The Aboitiz group also donated P100million donation to Project Ugnayan led by the Philippine Disaster

Resilience Foundation with other major business groups for the distribution of crockery vouchers to urban poor families in Greater Metro Manila.

The group also donated personal protection equipment, thermal scanners, alcohol, folding beds, tents and food packs worth P67.56 million consisting of P50.7 million from Aboitiz Foundation, P4.5 million from Aboitiz business units, P2 million from KINDer, P176,000 from employees for Davao frontliners, and P10.2 million from offline

donations via Unionbank transfers.

For its workers, the Aboitiz group has allotted P900 million in financial assistance while its employess have also chipped in P1.3 million for the group’s “no work, no pay” utility and security personnel in the group’s Taguig and Cebu offices.

Aboitiz Power Corporation has also remitted P536 million to its power plant host local government units under Energy Regulation 1-94.

Last April 6, the Energy Department

issued Department Circular 2020-004-00080, dictating that ER 1-94 funds received by host communities of power generation companies may now be used in full for efforts towards managing the effects of COVID-19.

This is, to-date, the contribution of AboitizPower to host communities where its power facilities are located.

“As the COVID-19 situation remains uncertain, the Aboitiz Group will continue to deploy assistance ABOITIZ/PAGE 6

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has reiterated that Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and their service providers must pay their 2019 tax liabilities before they are allowed to operate.

Aside from paying the POGO franchise tax, Dominguez said: “both service providers and licensees must also remit to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) all current 2020 withholding tax liabilities.”

In a Viber message to journalists Thursday, he said these businesses “must also execute an understanding to pay the

BIR all their arrears.”

“Once these are complied with, the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) will issue a tax clearance to enable them to operate,” he added.

POGO operations were halted along with most businesses after Metro Manila was placed under community quarantine last March 15, which was expanded to an enhanced community quarantine for mainland Luzon on March 17 to arrest the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The government is training its eyes on POGOs and their service TAXES/PAGE 6

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Opinion

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ORLAN R. RAVANERA C orona Virus looms in congested areas where the virus can easily be transmitted – thus, social distancing is imperative. There is therefore the imperative need to decongest the urban centers.

But how? Studies have shown that for every 4 people in the rural communities, 3 are migrating to the cities, especially the youth. What are the reasons behind such migration?

Let us pause for a while and have a little reflection on some realities besetting

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Make a stand Think a minute . . . Former American President, Harry Truman, said that every president has been attacked by the news media and press. President Truman further concluded that a U.S. president who had never fought with Congress or the Supreme Court had not really done his job.

This principle is also true for you and me. No matter what our job is, there will be people who oppose and criticize us. Sooner or later you will stand for something that others will not like.

Never forget, “You can’t please all the people all the time.”

T h at i s w hy a l w ay s trying to be popular is a losing battle, wasting both our time and effort. We need to choose the right battles for the right reasons and realize that success is having a good character and clear conscience—even if sometimes it makes us unpopular with certain people. But many of those people who will not like you for your moral stand will still respect you for your character and courage.

THINK A MINUTE

the rural communities. What are these scenarios? First, is the loss of our ecological integrity. Where are now the 17 million hectares of dipterocarp forest where our Indigenous People were living before sustainably for hundreds, if not, for thousands of years? The forest was the source of their food (baboy damo, usa, pharmacy (herbal medicine), etc. Because of the massive destruction of the forest ecosystem in the last 100 years, the Indigenous Peoples (about 15 million of them) became the poorest of the poor. Even their ancestral domains were transformed into massive plantations, not for them, but to satisfy the consumerist lifestyle of the people in advanced countries.

That is a great paradox in a country that can’t even satisfy its basic food staples like rice.

Poverty is also ver y much glaring in the coastal communities. Of the 13 major bays in the country.

10 are already biologically dead at the expense of the fishing communities who are also becoming the poorest of the poor. Silts eroded in the denuded uplands are killing the bays, worsened by the pollution from the sur rounding industr ies that are treating the bays as their waste pits. Before, the Philippines had been des cr ib e d by Dr. Kent Carpenter, the Head of the UN-FAO as “the center of the center of marine life on earth.”

But the Philippine archipelago had been treated as a waste pit by some advanced countries that did earn the ire of our beloved President.

Why are the farmers abandoning farming and going to the cities to find jobs? The categorical answer is res ipsa loquitor (the thing speaks for itself ). Farming has become economically non-viable and poverty is worsening in the rural areas. Very glaring is the

powerlessness of the farmers to have control over the mode of production and marketing. The Philippines is an agricultural country and any long or short term development can be won or lost through agriculture.

Indeed, poverty in our country is primarily a rural phenomenon. Two of three poor persons are located in the rural areas and are dependent on agriculture income. But who controls?

Who decides? Who profits?

The poor farmers are rendere d p owerless by market driven conventional agriculture. Where in the world can you find farmers tilling the land not their own and using seeds and chemicals beyond their capacity to sustain. Indeed, everyone is profiting from farming – i.e., the seed and fertilizer dealers, the compradors, the usurers -but not those who are exposed PROBINSYA/PAGE 7

The four categories of businesses affected by COVID-19 NUTS & BOLTS

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WEDNESDAY|MAY 13, 2020

Decongesting the cities thru Balik Probinsya

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JEROME DE LA FUENTE Just about every company in t he world has b e en impacted to a greater or lesser extent by COVID-19. The unprecedented tanking of the global economy has seen most companies losing revenue, but there have been notable and spectacular exceptions.

Companies can be divided into four broad categories, based on the immediate effect

on their revenues.

Winners: Companies with a revenue increase These are few and far between but there are some stellar examples, such as video conferencing and online productivity platforms like Zoom, Cisco Webex and Slack. Since advent of Zoom in late it’s market cap has more than doubled to US$35 billion. Other winners include online commerce businesses.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, already the world’s richest man, added a lazy US$24 billion to his net worth so far this year to take his fortune to US$139 billion.

“Small” losers: Companies with a revenue decrease up to 20% These are companies impacted not because of the nature of their business, but

only because of the general downtur n in e conomic activity. Companies selling the necessities of life fall into this category – essential consumer goods like groceries, basic clothing and utilities.

“Big” losers: Companies with a revenue decrease of 20% to 50% I t ’s b a d f o r t h e s e companies, but it’s likely to quickly turn around once the global lockdowns end.

Oil and gas companies are a good example. With a third of humanity essentially sheltering in place, global transportation is way down, but should bounce back quite fast.

“Catastophic” losers: Companies with a revenue decrease of more than 50% The so-called “BEACH” stocks – booking,

entertainment/live events, airlines, casinos/cruises and hotels. The very nature of the product is anathema to a postcovid world. They involve travel or gathering in crowds – often both. These are the very two things governments and health professionals have been incessantly pleading with us or forcing us to avoid though social distancing, aircraft groundings and border closures. The message has been clear: travelling and crowds are dangerous, even deadly. This message won’t be unlearnt or forgotten overnight.

While Integrated Resorts (IRs ) are a mix of casinos, hotels and entertainment. All three are BEACH products, so it’s a perfect storm. We have a long, slow recovery ahead.

AFFECTED/PAGE 7

Christ's most wonderful promise JHAN TIAFAU HURST Remember, “If you know better, then you must make a stand to live better, which can inspire others to live better.”

The sad fact is that when no one makes a stand for the right, everyone suffers. “All it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.”

T he f amou s Wate rg ate scandal in America was an example of this. The men who worked closely with President Nixon knew that morally wrong and illegal things were being done, but they did not do anything to stop it. In fact, during the trial when the prosecutor asked one of Nixon’s men named Porter why he did STAND/PAGE 7

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (Jn 14,3) What a wonderful promise Christ is making not only to the apostles but also to all of us, his believers, followers, disciples! Imagine the prospect of being with Christ forever. “You also may be where I am.”

These words should be etched deep in our mind and heart to reassure us that whatever happens in our earthly sojourn, as long as we are with Christ, everything will come to be as he promised. Nothing can thwart that promise made with divine assurance.

We may be like Thomas, always the doubting and questioning Thomas, who aske d, “L ord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the

way?” Given our earthly condition, it’s a question that we understandably ask.

But let’s listen again to what Christ said in response.

“I am the way and the truth and the life,” he said. “No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

We should just enliven our faith, revving it up with a functioning life of piety, so that at least we can go along with what Christ is promising us even if we cannot fathom it fully.

And like another apostle, Philip, we might ask, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” To which Christ said in so many words that whoever sees him sees the Father also, since he is in the Father and the Father is in him.

Again, it’s a mystery, a supernatural truth that can only be accessed through faith, and not just by our own reasoning. We can never overemphasize the need to enliven our faith, because it is there where we can enter into the far richer world of the spiritual and the supernatural. Without getting out of the world of nature, we can go beyond it and not trapped by it.

This truly is a call for us to be real men and women of faith, of prayer and solid piety, even and especially while we are in the middle of the world, immersed in our temporal affairs.

We n e e d t o k e e n l y remember that we are on an earthly journey here on earth. We are supposed to be with Christ in heaven as he wants us to be. That’s our destination. And he is the guide, the way. We need to

HINTS AND TRACES

ROY CIMAGALA be most aware of the truth of our faith so we can do our part in corresponding to Christ’s continuing guidance on us.

He is in every moment of our life, never leaving us, whether we are in good times or in bad. There is nothing in our life, including the mess that we may make, where Christ is not around to help and guide us. If we need mercy, which is what PROMISE/PAGE 7

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Banking&Finance PCCI asks financial institutions to extend loan maturity for biz WEDNESDAY|MAY 13, 2020

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HE country’s largest business organization, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), is asking banks and other financial institutions to extend loan maturity for enterprises for at least one year for them to be able to recover from the impact of the community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

In a statement Monday, PCCI said the extension should include loans due between March 16, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico said the business group’s members have a growing concern

on their “deteriorating cash positions and diminishing ability to avoid massive lay-offs” as most businesses are closed during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that started in mid-March.

“The ECQ has brought substantially all businesses to a sudden and unexpected stop. Many are now facing economic distress, forcing them to resort to drastic cost-cutting, lay-offs, and pay cuts.

Even as the government slowly relaxes the quarantine measures, we expect that the effects of this crisis will continue to be felt and that businesses will continue to struggle through the end of 2020,” Yujuico said.

He added a loan extension for at least a year will go a long way to preserve employment and averting permanent closure of businesses, which are clients and partners of banks and the non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs).

“Without the support of Philippine banks and other NBFIs, many businesses will likely be forced to shut down,” the PCCI chief added.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) regions, where a large percentage of businesses are located, have been placed under ECQ for two months.

(PNA)

GSIS grants P4B in loan aid to gov’t workers, pensioners THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has released a total of P4.1 billion in loans to some 60,000 government workers and pensioners nationwide as of April 30.

This was reported Monday by Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, president and general manager of the state pension fund.

While most parts of the country are still in enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), GSIS was able to disburse P3.48 billion in various loans (conso-loan, policy loan and pension loan) to a total of 25,198 GSIS members and pensioners nationwide between the period March 27 and April 30.

In addition to these regular loan programs, the state pension fund opened the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) emergency loan program to its 2.1 million members and pensioners last April 13.

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“I am very proud to say that in just 17 days, from April 13 to April 30, GSIS has granted PHP664 million in emergency loan to some 33,000 borrowers nationwide,” Macasaet said.

Earlier this month, this loan program was enhanced to make it more responsive to the needs of GSIS members and pensioners.

Under the enhanced program, Macasaet said

members who have indefault loan accounts with arrears of more than six months are now allowed to renew their emergency loan.

“We have also reduced the paid premium requirement from six months to only three months,” he said.

“However, since this is the first time for GSIS to offer the emergency loan on a national scale, there may be some delays due

to systems maintenance activities. I am grateful for the patience and understanding of our stakeholders during this time.”

Considering that systems enhancements are still in progress, members and pensioners whose emergency loans were renewed and granted from April 13 to 30 may renew their loans starting 11 May 2020.

(PR)

PHL banks to see credit losses due to coronavirus pandemic PHILIPPINE BANKS may see loan losses of up to P100 billion in 2020 due to the financial impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to S&P Global Ratings.

“For full year 2020, we estimate credit losses to rise threefold, by P100 billion, equal to 1.3% of banking sector loans,” it said in a report on Wednesday.

This year, banks will witness low single-digit growth, rising bad loans and credit costs and lower

OROBANKERS DIRECTORIES

profitability as the country could go into recession due to the pandemic, S&P said.

“The effect on individual banks in the coming quarters will be uneven, largely hinging on whether lenders adopt relaxed accounting and provisioning standards,” S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Nikita Anand said.

The report said loan demand may be buoyed by the corporate sector which needs a liquidity boost during this period.

Amid the current situation, the asset quality of banks will be dependent on the performance of the corporate sector as it accounts for 82% of their total loan portfolio.

“Large conglomerates with their strong business profiles, diversified revenue streams and solid liquidity buffers will likely come through the challenging operating conditions intact,” S&P said.

“Micro, small, and midsize enterprises (7% of

the banking sector’s books) and leveraged corporates may face challenges,” it added.

S&P also flagged that lenders’ exposure to sectors like hotels and catering (2% of bank lending), wholesale and retail trade (12%), transportation (3%) and manufacturing (10%) will be particularly high risk. Credit cards and unsecured personal loans from the retail segment are also likely to see higher LOSSES/PAGE 6

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6

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WEDNESDAY|MAY 13, 2020

Rapid diagnostic kits, giandam na sa MisOr LUYO sa kamatuoran nga “zero-case” pa ang Misamis Oriental sa nagpositibo sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), apan naniguro pa gihapon si

SAP...

from page 2

the direct beneficiaries.

“The LGUs have disbursed 100% of the funds. Family beneficiaries in Caraga received a P5,000 cash subsidy. The LGUs are now preparing their liquidation reports and other pertinent documents for the validation of DSWD,” the agency said, adding a total of 20 LGUs in the region have already submitted their liquidation reports.

“Among the key strategies that the LGUs implemented which led to an efficient SAP distribution in their localities include maintaining close coordination of local social welfare and development office (LSWD Os) staff, barangay of f icials, and purok leaders with the personnel of DSWD-13 from conducting the assessment to the distribution of the aid; the use of social media; and announcing information on SAP in the villages to keep constituents informed about the program,” the agency said.

The DSWD-13 also expressed gratitude to the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region for providing security during the SAP distribution. (PNA)

Education... from page 2

and other schools district super visors pursuant to the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) LCP national survey activity.

The meeting was a prelude to efforts undertaken by the office in adjusting to the new state of the Philippine educational system amid the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.

Aside from Maguindanao, the same LCP survey will b e c on du c t e d s o on i n other BARMM provincecomponents of Lanao del Sur,

Gov. Bambi Emano ug Provincial Task Force for COVID-19 chief Dr. Jerie Calingasan nga preparado kon ugaling ipahimutang na sa rapid testing ang intero

Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“The MBHTE-BARMM will be leaning towards this (direction) come August 24 for the start of the new school year, and set to end in April 2021,” Meling said in quoting DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones. (PNA)

Aboitiz... from page 3

nationwide. Simultaneous with ensuring that our team members’ needs are covered, we also focused on our inkind and monetary donations to communities that need them the most,” said Sabin M. Aboitiz, Aboitiz Group President and Chief Executive Officer.

Extending its campaign, t he Ab oitiz Group has also poured in significant aid efforts in Visayas and Mindanao t hroug h t he initiative of Aboitiz business units (BUs) based there.

lalawigan. Duna na silay rapid diagnostic kits nga giandam.

Matud ni Dr. Calingasan, prayoridad niining 6,250 testing kits ang frontliners ug

stranded sa mga lugar nga adunay kaso sa COVID-19. Sa maong paagi masiguro nga sa ilang pagpauli sa Misamis Oriental gilayong masuta ang ilang kahimtang.

Subay niini, dunay hotspot areas sa Misamis Oriental nga didto himuon sa Task Force ang massive swab analysis kon ugaling dunay mahitabong outbreak.

“Kadto rang mild PUI’s (persons under investigation), kadtong nag symptom na sa ILI (influenza light illness).

Clustering, meaning 3-5 people in one group nga nag-ILI magsuspect na dayon ta mao ni sila ang unahon natug kuha…mga elderly 60 above and those with comorbidities, the highly risk pregnant mothers,” segun pa ni Dr. Calingasan.

Maramag multiplier farm receives Itik Pinas stocks MARAMAG, Bukidnon-A total of 440 heads of Itik Pinas were dispersed by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DARFO 10) to a multiplier farm at Barangay Kuya, Maramag, Bukidnon, April 28.

The said area, which is managed by the local government of Maramag through its agriculture office, serves as a technology demonstration farm for duck culture in the town.

Overall amounting to P220,000, the demo

farm is seen to provide livelihood to locals, augment duck raisers’ income and productivity, and increase the inventory of ducks within the municipality.

Present during the delivery of stocks is DA-RFO 10 Livestock Program Project Development Assistant II Johnson C. Petalcurin, of which were received

by Agricultural Technician Johann Vincent Obedencio of the Municipal Agriculture’s Office of Maramag. (DA 10/PIA10)

Taxes...

from page 3 providers after some have been found to be operating illegally.

The sector is regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

(Pagcor), which forecasts the government’s gamingrelated revenues from this sector to exceed the P75.54 billion collected last year.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa earlier said there are about 60 POGO licensees to date that are “mostly registered with Pagcor.” (PNA)

Losses... from page 5

default rates, it added.

“Secured retail loans such as mortgages and auto loans will not likely be in the first wave of nonperforming assets, but will see some stress as unemployment rises,” S&P said.

The firm noted that the

Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office 10 distributes 440 heads of Itik Pinas to a multiplier farm at Barangay Kuya, Maramag, Bukidnon, April 28. Said area is a technology demonstration farm for duck culture, which is managed by Maramag LGU through its agriculture office. (DA 10)

country’s local banks are equipped with “good financial buffers and are entering the crisis “from a position of strength,” thanks to a 14% Tier 1 industry ratio and higher loan loss provisioning, which is seen to help mitigate rising risks in their operating environment.

The B ang ko S ent ra l ng Pilipinas has already implemented an array of regulatory relief measures for the banking industry

amid this crisis, including the staggered booking of allowance for credit losses, ditching penalties on legal reserve deficiencies and expanding the single borrower’s limit, among others.

Earlier this week, the central bank has also allowed banks to tap the excess capital from their Basel-III mandated buffers to mitigate the impact of the situation on their operations.

7

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WEDNESDAY|MAY 13, 2020

Stand... from page 4

not even try to stop it, Porter answered: “I was afraid of the group pressure from the other men and that I would not be seen as a team player.”

Porter did not understand that “Sometimes silence is golden, but other times it’s just plain yellow [and cowardly].”

There’s nothing wrong with being a team player— as long as you choose the right team: truth’s team.

Remember, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” A wise man said: “Please God—and you will please the people God wants you to please.” Today, won’t you decide to join God’s team? Jesus declared: “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” If you ask Him, Jesus will give you the power and courage to daily make a stand for what is true and right. Plus, you will inspire others to do the same. Just think a minute .

Affected... from page 4

But I can hear all industry personalities and stakeholders cries now: “What about pentup demand?! What about all those cabin-fevered wannabe tourists who will come streaming in just as soon as we re-open?” Sure, there will be an element of that for a few weeks, but overall visitation will only consistently return to 2019 levels once (a) the economy recovers and (b) the fear of the virus is (mostly) gone.

But there is light at the end of this long dark tunnel.

Humans are gregarious, outgoing, social creatures who love to play. The happy days will undoubtedly return – just not soon.

Probinsya... from page 4

to the excruciating heat of the sun and the outpourings of rains – the poor farmers.

Farming not becoming economically viable – this is foremost ground why four out of five people in the rural areas are leaving farming.

While other ASEAN countries have lowered down their production cost of rice, for example, to just P5 per kilo of rice, the Filipino famers are producing rice at P13 kilo.

Why? Because farming in the Philippines is so dependent on the use of chemicals.

After the 1997 signing of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Cebu, no less than the King of Thailand showed to the Thai farmers how to farm using organic fertilizer. He took off his robes and planted rice, telling the Thai farmers not to use tractors as the emission from tractors contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

He said to use carabaos as the wastes of the carabaos would fertilizer the soil. So, the Thai farmers were able to lower down the production cost of rice to just P5 per kilo.

Now that we have allowed Rice Tar r if icat ion, our country has been flooded

by rice sold at a lower price, to the detriment of our rice farmers.

Unless we regain our loss ecological integrity, unless we reverse poverty trend in the rural areas, the rural people will continue to migrate to the already congested cities.

The rural people are poor because they are powerless to have access and control over their resources. Let us therefore empower them to regain back the loss ecological integrity and have control over their resources especially the land which are increasingly under the control of the TNCs. Even the IP’s water rights are being violated by a few oligarchs in cohort with LGUs to have massive rakings.

People empowerment can only be had when the poor and the marginalized harness their collective potentials thru cooperativism!

decongest Manila, strengthen the capability of government to respond better to crises, and boost the economy of the provinces The Senator urged the Executive branch, particularly concerned agencies and LGUs, to execute their plans immediately in support of the objectives of the program as more Filipinos have expressed willingness to go home to their provinces after what they experienced during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Hindi po ito sapilitan.

Unahin dapat ang mga kababayan nating nais na bumalik sa kanilang mga pro bi ns y a at tu lu ng an dapat sila ng gobyerno na makakuha ng trabaho o magkaroon ng mas maayos na kabuhayan,” Go said adding that the program aims to give Filipinos hope for a better future after the COVID-19 crisis.

from page 4

from page 1

Promise...

we usually need, he will give it to us abundantly.

We just have to remember the parable of the unmerciful servant (cfr. Mt 18,21-35) to reassure us of Christ’s most available mercy. Also, his forgiveness of one of the thieves who was crucified with him, plus that episode of the woman caught in adultery.

We should see to it that we are not distracted, confused and, much less, lost in our ear thly journey toward heaven. That is why St. Paul said, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3,2) Not that we should disengage ourselves from earthly things. What we have to do is to realize that we should be stranded in the earthly things that ought to be pathways to heaven only, not things where we ought to stay definitively.

Let’s ask Our Lady, the Star of the Sea, “Stella Maris,” to show us the way to Christ.

Students... from page 8

coordinate and monitor skills development programs in different parts of the country.

In one of the meetings held for the Balik Probinsya B a gong Pa g - a s a ( B P 2 ) Program, TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña shared that they are aligning their programs and enhancing cours es in ag r ic u lture, health and construction.

Many economists believe that these are the sectors that are expected to bounce back much faster than other industries right after overcoming the COVID-19 outbreak.

In another statement through a radio interview, T E S DA- N C R r e g i o n a l director Florencio Sunico said that they will do a thorough profiling of workers and industries to help the government in properly assisting Filipinos going back to the provinces as the BP2 Program is set to be implemented.

As the proponent of this initiative, Go sees the BP2 Program as a way to

School...

All its undergraduate schools will follow a quarterly schedule, with a college semester composed of two quarters.

The first semester is divided into two quarters, July to mid-September and mid-September to November, and December to February and March to mid-May. For school year 20202021, the school will be adopting “flexible learning arrangements” consisting of two components designed to adjust to the public health crisis, XU president Fr. Roberto Yap said.

Those components, Yap said in his May 7 memorandum to the XU community, include homebased learning, and cautious return to on-campus learning.

“We plan to begin SY 20202021 in July 2020 following Home-Based Learning and then shift to Cautious Return to On-Campus Leaning when the government will allow return of physical classes on campus,” Yap said.

Home-based learning will consist of portable learning packets (hard and soft copies), online learning (synchronous and asynchronous), and online student support.

Courses that cannot be delivered by home-based learning according to XU standards will be postponed to a later time, he said.

'Flexible learning' Yap said the cautious return to on-campus learning will strictly enforce the obs er vance of physical distancing, a limited number of students in a classroom, safety and sanitary precautions, and limited large gatherings.

The flexible learning, he said, is a combination of those components to ensure that minimum standards of t he C ommission on Higher Education and the Department of Education are met.

XU will implement these new learning arrangements with the following aspects in mind: outcomes-based and performance task assessment, self-directed learning, regular

consultation with teacher, p e e r- t o - p e e r l e a r n i n g , guidance and counseling services, student support services, Ignatian formation, reduced student loads, smaller class sizes, staggered schedules, and several shifts.

For the graduate school and professional schools of law and medicine, their school year will start in August and will end in May the following year.

“Although the tuition fee increase has already been approved, there will be no tuition increase for SY 20202021 and some miscellaneous fees will be reduced in view of flexible learning,” Yap said.

“We will also work hard to increase our scholarship and financial aid programs. These measures are taken to help parents cope with the present crisis. Each school will release an updated assessment of tuition and fees, modes of payments, and payment installment options before enrollment," he added.

During May to June 2020 and in the course of the school year, XU’s teaching faculty will be undergoing systematic and intensive training so they can facilitate quality flexible learning, especially home-based learning, Yap said.

“XU is also strengthening IT support and improving access to internet and gadgets for faculty and students.

Those who have insufficient access to the internet and gadgets will be provided hard copies of the portable learning packets,” he said.

“We realize for basic education students, especially our grade schoolers, successful home-based learning requires the active engagement of parents and guardians. We are counting on you to work with us so that your children's learning doesn't stop due to the pandemic,” Yap added.

To prepare for cautious return to on-campus learning, XU will be making the necessary and critical infrastructure adjustments to ensure all four of school’s campuses (Divisoria, Pueblo, Macasandig, and Manresa) remain safe for everyone even now and in preparation for the time when some form of on-site education can already happen, he said.

“Under flexible learning, co-curricular and extracurricular activities will unavoidably be very limited.

But under these unusual arrangements, we will do our best that flexible learning is

marked by the characteristics of Jesuit education,” he said.

“We will be insistent and incessant in forming our students to become men and women for others. Rest assured that we will always aim for Jesuit whole-person education that guarantees academic competence while providing ‘cura personalis’ (personal care) for each learner,” he added. (PNA)

Negative... from page 1

medical personnel were feared to have been infected after treating a 21-year-old vehicular accident victim last May 1.

The patient was treated at the emergency room of the NMMC but was later transferred to the surgical ward for a spine operation.

He was later tested positive of COVID-19. He died on May 5.

“We feared that they were at risk of being infected because they treated the patient, (that’s why they were tested),” Retuya said.

After the vehicular accident patient was tested positive for COVID-19, the entire NMMC staff assigned at the emergency room and surgical ward, including eight other patients, were placed under isolation.

Retuya said they are still investigating where the patient got the virus.

A n o t h e r C OV I D - 1 9 positive, a 69-year-old male from Pinikitan in Barangay Camaman-an here, died at the NMMC last April 18.

Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health-10 (DOH-10) director, urged the local government to enhance its COVID-19 response as he claimed that there is already a local transmission in the city since the source of the infection could not be traced.

He asked the city government to continue conducting contact tracing and to immediate quarantine all those who had close contacts with the COVID-19 positives.

Suba-an also recommended the conduct of laboratory testing to those who have close contacts with the COVID-19 positives and the establishment of a quarantine facility for suspect COVID-19 cases.

He said that communities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 should also be quarantined.

As of 3 p.m. Monday, May 11, this city has four

Republic of the Philippines Region X Province of Lanao del Norte Municipality of Kapatagan Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar R.A. 10172 (Gender)

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In Compliance with Rule 7 of R.A. 10172. A notice is hereby served to the public that JOSIE NABALONA TUBIO has filed with this Office a petition for Correction of Clerical Error-Change of Gender from "MALE" to "FEMALE" in the Certificate of Live Birth of JOSIE NABALONA TUBIO who was born on October 4, 1997 at BAG-ONG BADIAN, KAPATAGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE and whose parents are CHERLITO ETANG TUBIO and MARJORIE ROSARIO NABALONA. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than 15 days.

BWM: May 13 & 20, 2020

(SGD) IVY REYES TONGCO Municipal Civil Registrar

confirmed COVID-19 deaths, two outpatients and one recovery, DOH-10 data showed.

DOH-10 also reported that as to suspect COVID-19 cases in the city, 30 patients remained in confinement, 46 have been discharged, 134 are outpatients and 18 have died.

Did you find apk for android? You can find new Free Android Games and apps.

Hike... from page 1

provide long-term solutions to recurring problems in urban areas, especially Metro Manila.

The senator said these recurring problems accelerate t he spre ad of dis e as es due to densely-populated communities in urban growth centers.

If the government increases wage rates and incentives for companies to establish processing facilities in the provinces, Go said there will be massive reverse migration to the rural areas.

Piñol agreed, saying workers will be earning more because they could do some food production activities on the side while processing companies would realize more profit because they no longer have to haul raw materials from the rural production areas to their factories.

MinDA also proposed an action plan supported by legislation to ensure the sustainability of the "Balik Probinsya" program.

Pending the passage of legislative action, Piñol said an executive order directing the preparation of a national framework for the Balik Probinsya program and direct the cooperation of all agencies and sectors involved to jumpstart the initiative.

He added that MinDA may be tapped for the implementation of this directive for Mindanao as provided for under Republic Act 9996. (PNA) EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ESPERIDION VIDA ROBLES JR. who died on August 07, 2019, at #359 Zone 9, Crossing Patag, Cagayan de Oro City; the deceased intestate, without will or testament, and without any outstanding debts in favor of any person or entity, the deceased was the depositor/owner of savings account with Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and more particularly described as follows: Savings Account No.: 31410195-70 Address: Carmen, CDOC Balance as of Dec. 17, 2018 P 86,539.15 And has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY, filed by the heirs of ESPERIDION VIDA ROBLES, JR, per DOC #34; PAGE #07; BOOK #IX; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. KATHLENE G. GONZALESJAPUZ. BWM: May 6, 13 & 20, 2020

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Wednesday|May 13, 2020

“Hatid Estudyante para Makabalik sa Probinsya” to assist stranded students in Metro Manila - Go A

• Bong Go reminds education sector to prepare for ‘new normal’

MID the travel restrictions and quarantine measures imposed on several parts of the country due to COVID-19, the government plans to implement the “Hatid Estudyante para Makabalik sa (Kanilang) Probinsya” initiative to assist stranded students in Metro Manila who want to go back to their provinces while waiting for the next school year to begin.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that he supports the initiative as he understands the challenges faced by students who are studying in Metro Manila away from their families in the provinces.

“Upon the initiation and inspiration of

President Rodrigo Duterte, magpapatupad ang gobyerno ng Hatid Estudyante para Makabalik sa (Kanilang) Probinsya initiative upang matulungan ang mga stranded students dito sa Metro Manila na hindi nakauwi dahil sa travel restrictions at quarantine measures kontra COVID-19,” Go said.

“Suportado ko po ang inisyatibong ito. Wala naman pong pilitan ito.

Sa mga gusto lang po na umuwi pansamantala na mga estudyante, dahil naiintindihan po ni Pangulong Duterte, naiintindihan po ng gobyerno na mahirap po mapalayo sa ating mga pamilya,” he further stressed.

Senator Go urged various agencies of the government to coordinate

closely with each other to ensure the safety of students who would choose to voluntarily go home. The initiative will be led by the Department

of Transportation, in close coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, and Commission on Higher Education.

“Nananawagan tayo sa DOTR na ihanda ang kailangang sasakyan ng mga estudyante — whether through air, sea or land. Sagutin dapat ng gobyerno ang transportation expenses.

Alamin rin po dapat ng CHED at DepEd kung sinu-sino ang mga estudyante na interesado.

Himayin dapat kung sino yung kailangan talagang umuwi at sino ang pwedeng maalagaan nalang dito sa Maynila,” Go urged.

“Nananawagan rin po ako sa DILG na tumulong sa coordination para makapaghanda ang mga LGUs concerned na tatanggap sa mga uuwing estudyante, ma-contact yung kanilang mga pamilya, at para maihatid diretso sa kanilang mga bahay o mai-turnover ng maayos sa kanilang mga pamilya,” he added.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also emphasized the need that the initiative should be in strict compliance with protocols set by health authorities to avoid spreading the disease further.

“Pinapaalalahanan ko na dapat masigurong gagawin ng gobyerno ito sa paraang in compliance sa ating health protocols.

Dapat makipag-

coordinate sa DOH para sa paglatag ng quarantine measures, pag-conduct ng COVID-19 testing, at may certification dapat from health officials para masigurong hindi kakalat ang sakit pag-uwi nila,” Go said.

Go appealed to students and families for their understanding since protocols must be followed to ensure their safety and the safety of their communities. He also urged them to assess if it would be better for them to go home to their provinces or just stay in Metro Manila given that the next school year will start in a few months.

“Sa mga estudyante at kanilang mga pamilya, intindihin lang po natin na may proseso pong kailangan sundin kung nais nilang umuwi.

Para naman po doon sa mahihirapan bumalik sa Maynila sa pagbubukas muli ng klase ngayong Agosto at para naman sa mga may kaya, baka makakabuting manatili na lang kayo dito sa Maynila,” he also appealed.

Mindful that there are students who may not opt to return to the provinces, Senator Go also appealed to various agencies of the government, LGUs and universities where these students are enrolled to ensure the welfare of students, particularly those staying in dormitories.

And, hoping that the country will soon overcome the COVID-19 crisis and given the inevitable “new normal”, Go urged concerned

government agencies and schools to guide students in preparing for the next school year.

He emphasized the need to still observe certain protocols, such as social distancing, depending on the health emergency status in areas where these schools are situated.

“Schools must prepare their facilities and lay down protocols in preparation for the possible scenarios that students, teachers and education personnel will face when classes resume,” he said.

“Hindi naman po pwedeng tumigil ang kanilang pag-aaral,” Go added.

The Senator also urged TESDA to coordinate its efforts and collaborate with various government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Economic and Development Authority as well as the local government units, to match skills with the jobs that will be made available in the provinces.

“This is to ensure that the technical and vocational education as well as the skills trainings offered in a particular province match with what is needed in that locality.”

“Naaayon rin ang klase ng kabuhayan sa katangian ng isang probinsya.

Halimbawa, doon sa Mindanao, merong mga probinsya na malakas ang agri-industrial sector.

Meron namang probinsya na mas akma sa kanila ang fisheries. Kaya mahalaga na ang binibigay na training ay tugma din sa kung ano ang negosyong maaaring lumago sa lugar na iyon,” Go said.

“Inaasahan din nating magkakaroon ng mga bagong special economic zones sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa kung kaya’t dapat lang na ihanda na ang mga tao sa lugar na iyon para maging kwalipikado sila sa mga trabahong magiging available,” Go added.

As the country’s main agency tasked to manage and supervise the technical education and skills development of Filipinos, one of the mandates of TESDA is to integrate, STUDENTS/PAGE 7